Emergency dispatch system



April 28, 1931. a. F. HARTER EMERGENCY DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed Jan. 28, 1928 D 7 m v WML TEM $0 BSP E MK 5 EM l1 wm %u TV SOW E J wmN \IH I jWYZZO? 6607' 6172 52 3 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 stares earner eerie s eeriee ameasa or srjalnerlnnn, rressecirnsnrrs, risers-rice 'ro ms nanometre rnrn COMPANY, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A oonroim'rron OF CONNECTICUT EMERGENCY menace system 1 A pliaticfi nee iammy 28, 1923. serial 1%. 950,159.

departure and the time signals comprise a chime to' be rung fivemmutes before the t1m'e of departure; a gong to be rungone minute before the time of departure and a warning light togconstitutethe last call. The time signals may be common to the route signals so that one set of time signals Will serve in connection with each route signal. v These signals are preferably controlled automati c'ally by time and route means including syn chronized controllers such as perforated-tape or pin-drum contact-closers controlled" a master-clock So long as the trains or busses maintain their regular schedule such-asys'tem is highly satisfactory but otherv'v'iseit is in adequate. I I

Accordingto the present invention emergency apparatus is provided toprofduce'the desired sequence of signals-for anyt'r'ain or bus which is ofi schedule, thisapp'aratus pref era' b ly'being correlated was a dispatching system of the aforesaid type to operate" the usual signals in the usual sequence; In the best mode of applyingthe invention of which I am aware, means are providedtoshift the control of the signals relating to any particular departure to the emergency apparatus at any desired time, for example when it is first learned that the departure must-be delayed, the functioning of the emergency means then being initiated at a predetermined time before the delayed departure as actuating a manual switch or other controller.

1 This shift of control to the emergency ap paratus may be efieadror any piiffi fim route simply by the reversal of a two-Way:

switch associated with the" corresponding" route board light one contact ofthe switch being connected to the normal control mechani'sm and the other contact 'with the emergency apparatus.

Th e emergency app aratu-s preferably com-' prises a controller of the aforesaid perfo:

rated-tape or pin-drum type for closing-the circuits in the desired sequence. Hoiveyer instead of using atwentyfdur hour or'oth-er long-interval controller as in the normalschedule apparatus the emergency controller need have only a single's'e't of circuit-closiiii cycle of emergency signals in-connection with 65' perforations or pin swhich function for each any one of the plurality of routeboardsq The emergency apparatus" also comprises means for rendering it functionally ineffective at the end of each-cycle of signals, preferably automatically stopping its controller in a rest position in which aco'ntrol circuit is closed:

Forthe purpose o'fillustration one concrete embodiment of' the invention is shown inthe accompanying drawing in which Fig. "1 is a diagrammatic representation'of the entire system; and

Fig. 2' is a diagram of certain of'the circuits of the emergency apparatus in a condition other'than shown'in Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the raven:

tionchose'n for the purpose of illustration R and ll-"indicate route boards; 1 and 2 are lights for illuminating" the" boards respectively; C, G andL the chime; gong and lastcall light to be operated at predetermined times before the departure over any particu-' larrout'e, as for example five niinutes; one minute and immediatelybefore departure;

3,4,5, '6' and 7 are relays for closing the cir-' cuits of the respective signals; 8,9 and 10' are so called duration-contact relays for control-1 ling the relays 5, 6 and 7 respectively; llis a master-clock for closingcircuit at predetermi ied intervals, for example once per min ute; 123mm inclusive are perforatedtap'e's for controllingthe circuits of the respective signals; 17m 21 inclusive represent springcontact fin gersarranged to contact with ether 22 through the perforations in the tapes respectively; and E is the emergency apparatus.

Each of the duration-contact relays 8, 9 and 10 comprises a notched wheel having alternate recesses 23 and protuberances 24 on its periphery, a circuit closer 25 carrying a lug 26 which rides on the periphery of the notched wheel and an electromagnet 27 for advancing the notched wheel one step each time it is energized, one step of the notched wheel constituting the distance between a recess 23 and a protuberance 24 so that successive energizations of the electromagnet 27 alternately opens and closes the switch 25, the switch remaining open or closed until the next energization of the electromagnet. Inasmuch as this is a common type of make and break relay further disclosure will be unnecessary herein. 7 i

7 Tape controllers of the type indicated at 12 to 21 are also well-known and therefore need not be shown in detail for the purpose of illustrating this invention, it being understood that the tapes are driven in synchronism by any suitable means under the control of a master-clock, that instead of using a separate tape for each series of perforations the respective series of perforations may be combined in any desired combinations on one or more tapes of multi-width. The tapes may have any desired length to cover any period of time, as for example a twenty-four hour period. Whenever one of the perforations 28 to 36, inclusive, is moved under one of the contact fingers 17 to 21, inclusive, circuit is closed through the finger and the contact bar 22 until the perforation is moved past the contact finger- The tapes are preferably advanced intermittently at short intervals of time and the perforations are preferably located on the tapes to register with the contact finger during the brief period when the tapes are at rest.

Inasmuch as the operation of that portion of the system above described is self-evident only a brief outline will be set forth as follows. As shown in Fig. 1 the signals relating to route It are next in order. \Vhen the tapes advance until the perforations 28 and 32 are in registry with the contact fingers 17 and 20, lamp 1 is lighted to illuminate the board R and chime C rings. The circuit for chime C is closed by the relay 3 which is energized through the circuit from ground to bar 22,

V contacting finger 17, relay 3 and master-clock switch 11 back to ground. The master-clock switch is synchronized with the tape so that it closes circuitlduring a fraction of each rest period of the tape. Consequently the relays 3,4, 8, 9 andlO, which are controlled by the master-clock switch 11, do not remain energized during the entire period of rest of the tapes but only during a fraction of these periods. The circuit through lamp 1 is closed by the energization of relay 6 whose circuit is closed by relay 9 which is energized over the circuit from ground to bar 22, finger 20, master-clock switch 11 to ground. While the relay 3 for chime C closes circuit only momentarily, the relay 9 maintains the circuit for light 1 closed until the relay 9 receives another impulse of current. Inasmuch as the perforations 28 and 32 move out of registry with the contact fingers before the master-clocr switch 11 again closes contact the relay 9 does not receive another impulse of current until another perforation moves under spring finger 20. As the tapes advance the perforation 29 in tape 13 comes under the fin er 18 after a predetermined series of time, whereupon the gong G rings for a brief interval, the gong G being controlled in the same manner as already described in connection with chime C. Shortly after the ringing of gong G perforation 30 comes under finger 19 thereby lighting the last-call light L in the same manner as already described in connection with the light 1. Shortly thereafter the perforations 31 and 33 move under the fingers 19 and 20, thereby extinguishing the lights L and 1 by advancing the relays 8 and 9 one step to a position where the lugs 26 register with the recesses 23in the two notched wheels of the relays 8 and 9, respectively. This completes one cycle of signals, the train or bus over route R departing at the time the lights L and 1 are extinguished.

To repeat this cycle of signals for other routes only one additional tape per additional route is required. Thus, in Fig. l the additional tape 16 is added for route B, it being understood that as many additional routes as desired may be operated by this apparatus as indicated by the broken lines 37 and 38, the signal tapes 12, '13 and 14 serving for each route. For example, the perforation 36 on tape 12 moves under finger 17 at the same time that perforation 34 on tape 16 moves under finger 21, thus initiating a second cycle of signals, the tapes 12, 13 and 14 having recurrent sets of perforations'bearing the same relation to perforations 34 and 35 on tape 16 and other tapes as the perforations 28, 29, 30 and 31 bearto the perforations 32 and 33 on tape 15.

The emergency apparatus E comprises a controller which may have a plurality of tapes as above described but for the purpose of illustration a single multi-width tape 39 is shown. This tape has four series of perforations in alignment with the contact fingers 40 to 43, respectively, perforations 44 and 45 aligning with fingers 40 and 41, respectively, perforations 46Iand 47 aligning with finger 42 and perforation 48 aligning with finger 43. 7 The circuits through fingers 40 and 41 are in parallel with the circuits through fingers 17 and 18 and function in the same way when the emergency. apparatus is in. operation. The;- circuit' throu-gh finger 42: controls any oneofthe route lights 1, 2, etc., when the corresponding switch '50, 51, etc,

is moved to the dotted-line position; The fourth finger 43 controls the starting and step by an electrom'agnet 56 in the same wayas relays 8, 9 and 10, a two-way-manualswitch 57 and a relay switch 58 operated by an electromagnet 59. Forconvenience the contacts of the two-way switches are referred to as the onand a contacts-the on contacts being designated N and the olf contacts F. V

The operation of the emergency apparatus is as follows. When the dispatcher learns for'example that the train or bus over route R is delayed, the switch 50 is thrown from the solid-line to the dotted-line position, thereby preventing the tape from lighting lamp 1 at the regular time. Then at a'p-re'determined time before the delayed starting over route R the manual switch 57 ismoved from contact F to contact N, thereby energizing electromagnet 56 through the contact N of switch 57 and thecontact F. of switch 55.

This advances the notchedwh el 60 one step. to move the switch 55 from contact F to con tact N, thereby breaking the circuitcthrough electromagnet 56 and establishing circuit.

through the motor 53.v hen the motor 53 receives the first impulse from master-clock 54.the tape 39 is advancedto the next p'osi-u tion of rest wherein the perforation 48has passed beyond the finger 43 andtheperforw tions 44 and 46 have moved into registry; with the fingers and 42, respectively, whereupon the manual 'switch'57 may be permitted to return to its normal position shown in Fig. 1-. When perforations 44 and 46 register with fingers 40 and 42, respectively, the chimeG and'the light 1 are operated as above: de'- scribed' lVhen perforation later registers withfinger 41 the ,gongG is rung'as above described. Subsequently, when perforation, Z 47 registers with finger .42 relay 9 receives another impulse of current which extinguishes light 1 at the time of dep'arature. At the next advanced step of the controller 39. perforation 48 again registers with finger 43 thereby energizing relay through ground, bar 49, relay 59, contact N of switch and thence to battery and ground. The energizanon of relay 59 closes a switch58 thereby passing another. impulse of current to electro magnet 56 over the circult from ground through battery,.switch 55, contact N, contact Fof switch 57, electromagnet 56 to ground as illustrated in Fig. 2. This impulse through electromagnet. 56 advances the notchedwheel 60 another step which moves. the switch 55 from the contact N to the contact F thereby opening the circuit of motor 53 and stopping the advance of the tape39; Thus the emer-: gency apparatus comes to rest in a position; ready to be used againin connection with any of the route indicators R, R, etc," when a corresponding switch 50, 51', etc., is moved to the dotted-line position and the manual switch 57 is again depressed for a. brief interval. I

From the foregoing it will be'evident that. the circuit for starting the emergency :con-. troller motor53 comprises the contact N of the two-way electromagnetic switch 55, the circuit for energizing the electromagnet 56 includingthe contact N of manual switch 57, that the circuit 55'N,58 F5'7'56 Cir comprises a branch circuit forienergizingthe electromagnet56-to move its switch to the'ofl contact F, and that the branch circuit 49.4359-N58 for said relay includes the contact 49-43 on the controller; It will also be evident that the timing, of the signals; may be varied as desired to; fit particular conditions; that more than one emergency circuit maybe associated with each dispatch ing board; and that any desired number or' Iclaimr' 1. A dispatching. systemcomprising time kind of signals may be employed.

indicating means, a plurality'ofroute indicators, route means for Operating the route 111- dicators A. in predetermined sequence; normal means for operating the time indicating means in predetermined time relationship to each operation of the route indicators before the expirationof the route indication, emergency means,v for operating any one of said routein'dicators out of said predetermined sequence and concomitantly operating said time indicating means, and a manual controller for rendering any route means inef-y fective when the emergencymeansis operatively associated with the 1 corresponding route indicator, said time indicating means beingresponsive bot-h to-said normal means and: also to said emergency means while the: latter-is operatively associated with a route indicator; I r

2. A dispatching system comprising time indicating means, aiplurality of route indicators, route means for continually-operating. the route indicators in predetermined sequence, normal means for: operating the time indicating means in predetermined time relationshipto eachoper'ation ofthe route indicators before theeXpiration of the route indication, normally. inoperative emergency means for operatingsaid time indicatmg means and any one of said route indicators" out ofsaid predetermined. sequence, and a manual controller for rendering any route means inefiective when the emergency means is operatively associated with the corresponding route indicator, said time indicating means being responsive both to said normal means and also to said emergency means while the latter is operatively associated with a route indicator. 1

3. A dispatching system comprising time indicating means, a plurality of route indicators, route means for operating the route in-. dicators in predetermined sequence, normal means for operating the time indicating means in predetermined time relationship to each operation of the route indicators before the expiration of the route indication emergency means for operating any one of said route indicators out of said predetermined sequence and concomitantly operating said time indicating means and a manual controller for rendering any route means ineffective when the emergency means is operatively associated with the corresponding route indicator, said emergency means including mechanism for automatically rendering the means ineffective after a single cycle of indications, saidjtime indicating means being responsive both to said normal means and also to said emergency means while the latter is operatively associated with a route indicator. I r

4. A dispatching system comprising a plurality of time indicators, a plurality of route indicators, normal means for operating the route indicators in predetermined sequence and the time indicators in predetermined time relationship to each other and-to each opertaion of each route indicator before theexpiration of the route indication, emergency means for operating any one of said route indicators out of said predetermined sequence and said time. indicators in said predetermined time relationship, and a switch associated with each route'indicator for shifting its control to said emergency means, said time indicators being responsive both to said normal means and also-to said emergency means while the latter is operatively associated with a route indicator.

5. A dispatching system comprising a plurality of time indicators, a plurality of route indicators, normal means foroperating the route indicators in predetermined sequence and the time indicators in predetermined time relationship to each other and to each operation of each route indicator before the expiration of the route indication, emergency means for operating any oneof said route indicators out of said predetermined sequence and said time indicators in said predetermined time relationship, and a switch associated with each route indicator for shifting its control to said emergency means, said emer-' gency means lncluding mechanislnfor automatically rendering the first operating means inefi'ective after operating each time indicator. and one route indicator, said time indicators being responsive both to said normal means and also to said emergency means while the latter is operatively associated with a route indicator.

6. A dispatching system comprising time indicating means, a plurality of route indicators, route means for continually operating the route indicators in predetermined sequence, normal means for operating the time indicating means in predetermined time relationship to each operation of the route indicators before the expiration of the route indication, normally inoperative emergency means for operating said time indicating means and any one of said route indicators out of said predetermined sequence, and a manual controller for rendering any route means inefii'ective when the emergency means is operatively associated with the correspondated with a route indicator.

7. A dispatching system comprising a plurality of circuits, control means separately connected with each of said circuits for closing said circuits in predetermined sequence, a starter for starting said means and mechanism controlled by said means for rendering the means ineffective after each of said circuits has been closed until said starter is again actuated. V q

8. An electrical system for dispatching purposes and the like, comprising a plurality of circuits,a cyclic controller separately connected to each of said circuits for operating the circuits in sequence during each cycle, means for manually starting the controller to start a cycle of operations, and means responsive to the controller for stopping the controller at the end of the cycle.

9. An electrical system for dispatching purposes and the like, comprising a plurality of clrcuits, a cyclic controller separately connected to each of said circuits for operating the circuits in sequence during each cycle, a motor for actuating said controller, a circuit for starting said motor, an electromagnetic switch for opening said circuit, and a control circuit for the electromagnet controlled by said controller to stop said motor.

10. An electrical system for dispatching purposes and the like, comprising a plurality of circuits, a cyclic controller separately connected to each of said circuits for operating the clrcuits in sequence during each cycle, the controller having a rest position at the end of the cycle in which one of said circuits is closed,

a motor for driving the controller, and an electromagnet in said'last circuit for stopping the motor when the controller reaches said rest position. i

11. An electrical system for dispatching purposes or the like comprising a signal controller, a motor for driving the controller,

means including a two-way switch for starting the motor, an electromagnet for actuating said switch, a two-way manual switch, each of c said switches having an on contact and an of contact, a relay switch, a circuit for starting said motor including the on contact of said electromagnetic switch, a circuit for enerigizing said electromagnet to move its switch to on position including the on contact of said manual switch, a branch circuit for energizing said electromagnet tomove its switch to the ofl' contact including the on contact of said electromagnetic switch, said relay switch and the off contact of said manual switch, and a branch circuit for said relay including a contact on said controller and the on contact of said electromagnetic switch.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, this twenty-fourth day of January,

1928. GEORGE F. HARTER. 

